spat
1 of 5 ˈspat 
past tense and past participle of spit
spat
2 of 5noun (1)
plural spat or spats
: a young bivalve (such as an oyster)
spat
3 of 5noun (2)
: a cloth or leather gaiter covering the instep and ankle
spat
4 of 5noun (3)
1
chiefly dialectal : slap entry 2
2
: a brief petty quarrel or angry outburst
a lovers' spat
3
: a sound like that of rain falling in large drops
spat
5 of 5verb
spatted; spatting
transitive verb
chiefly dialectal : slap
intransitive verb
1
: to quarrel pettily or briefly
2
: to strike with a sound like that of rain falling in large drops
Synonyms
Noun (3)
- altercation
- argle-bargle [chiefly British]
- argument
- argy-bargy [chiefly British]
- battle royal
- bicker
- brawl
- contretemps
- controversy
- cross fire
- disagreement
- dispute
- donnybrook
- falling-out
- fight
- hassle
- imbroglio
- kickup
- misunderstanding
- quarrel
- rhubarb
- row
- scrap
- set-to
- squabble
- tiff
- wrangle
Verb
- altercate
- argue
- argufy
- bicker
- brabble
- brawl
- controvert
- dispute
- fall out
- fight
- hassle
- jar
- quarrel
- quibble
- row
- scrap
- squabble
- tiff
- wrangle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb They were typical sisters, spatting one minute, playing together the next. we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
origin unknown
Noun (2)
short for spatterdash legging
Noun (3)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1667, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
circa 1802, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1729, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1832, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
spat 1 of 3
past tense and past participle of spit
spat
2 of 3noun
ˈspat
: a cloth or leather covering for the instep and ankle men once wore over shoes
spat
3 of 3noun
: a brief unimportant quarrel
Medical Definition
spat
past and past part of spit
spat 1 of 2
noun
as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions like any couple, they have their spats Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- altercation
- quarrel
- dispute
- controversy
- fight
- disagreement
- bicker
- brawl
- argument
- squabble
- misunderstanding
- imbroglio
- tiff
- skirmish
- row
- feud
- contretemps
- debate
- disputation
- wrangle
- clash
- tussle
- donnybrook
- falling-out
- battle royal
- cross fire
- set-to
- argle-bargle
- rhubarb
- argy-bargy
- scrap
- tangle
- kickup
- protest
- attack
- vendetta
- hassle
- difference
- logomachy
- fisticuffs
- run-in
- contention
- catfight
- protestation
- fracas
- objection
- melee
- dissention
- dissension
- fuss
- affray
- fray
- mêlée
- free-for-all
spat
2 of 2verb
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily we tend to spat over money more than anything else Synonyms & Similar Words
- bicker
- quarrel
- fight
- argue
- squabble
- brawl
- clash
- dispute
- tiff
- debate
- row
- wrangle
- scrap
- fall out
- lock horns
- jar
- altercate
- quibble
- butt heads
- hassle
- discuss
- controvert
- bandy words
- brabble
- mix it up
- argufy
- contest
- tangle
- protest
- dare
- object
- challenge
- contend
- kick
- nitpick
- fuss
- cavil
- defy
- consider
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- get along
- accept
- coexist
- concur
- agree
- consent
- assent
- running ornament
- running out
- running out of
- running out on
- running over
- running part
- running pine
- running rail
- running rigging
- running riot
- running rope
- running set
- running shoe
- running shooting
- running side
- running spider
- running start
- running stitch
- running story
- running strawberry-bush
- running text
- running the risk of
- running through
- running time
- running title